Jason Cazares leaves the Hayward Hall of Justice after attending a sentencing hearing for his role in the killing of Gwen Araujo Jr., Friday, Jan. 27, 2006. Cazares, 26, who pleaded no contest to manslaughter in a plea bargain, was sentenced to six years. Two other men were sentenced to the mandatory terms of 15 years-to-life for second-degree murder for the killing. (AP Photo/Fremont Argus, Anda Chiu) ** , MAGS OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT **

Photo: ANDA CHIU

Jason Cazares leaves the Hayward Hall of Justice after attending a...

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** ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, MARCH 16, AND THEREAFTER ** FILE ** This is an undated family photo of Eddie "Gwen" Araujo, provided by KGO-TV in San Francisco. Seventeen-year-old Eddie "Gwen" Araujo died slowly. It began, according to testimony from one of her attackers, with rough shouts _ "Are you a man or a woman?" _ and progressed to clumsy grabs at her private parts to get the answer: Araujo was born a man but identified and lived as a woman. (AP Photo/Family photo via KGO-TV) Eddie Araujo; Gwen Araujo
ALSO RAN; 03/16/2004 Eddie 'Gwen' Araujo was born a male but lived as a female. Sylvia Guerrero, right, mother of Gwen Araujo, leaves court in Fremont after applying for a name change for the slain transgender teen. Sylvia Guerrero, right, mother of Gwen Araujo, leaves court in Fremont after applying for a name change for the slain transgender teen. Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo was born male but lived as a female from age 14 until she was killed in 2002, when she was 17. Defendants Jose Merel (left), Michael Magidson and Jason Cazares are on trial for murder and a hate crime in Gwen Araujo's death. Defendants Jose Merel (left), Michael Magidson and Jason Cazares are on trial for murder and a hate crime in Gwen Araujo's death. Sylvia Guerrero, right, mother of Gwen Araujo, leaves court in Fremont after applying for a name change for the slain transgender teen. Sylvia Guerrero, right, mother of Gwen Araujo, leaves court in Fremont after applying for a name change for the slain transgender teen. Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo was born male but lived as a female from age 14 until she was killed in 2002, when she was 17. Defendants Jose Merel (left), Michael Magidson and Jason Cazares are on trial for murder and a hate crime in Gwen Araujo's death. Defendants Jose Merel (left), Michael Magidson and Jason Cazares are on trial for murder and a hate crime in Gwen Araujo's death. Ra TV OUT NO

Photo: Ap

** ADVANCE FOR USE SUNDAY, MARCH 16, AND THEREAFTER ** FILE ** This...

(01-27) 15:45 PST HAYWARD -- An Alameda County judge sentenced three men to prison today for their roles in the 2002 slaying of a Newark teenager who was biologically a boy but lived as a girl, ending a nationally watched case that focused attention on violence against transgender individuals.

At a packed hearing at the Hayward Hall of Justice, Superior Court Judge Harry Sheppard sentenced Michael Magidson, 25, and Jose Merel, 26, to 15 years to life in prison for second-degree murder in the killing of Gwen Araujo. Jason Cazares, 26, who struck a deal with prosecutors last month by pleading no contest to a lesser charge, received a six-year sentence.

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A fourth defendant, Jaron Nabors, 22, who testified against the others, is expected to be sentenced on May 22 to 11 years in prison.

Sheppard denied motions from Merel and Magidson seeking a new trial and their requests that he reduce their convictions to voluntary manslaughter.

Sylvia Guerrero, Araujo's mother, was among many relatives who spoke in court today about how the killing has affected them.

"We each have been given a lifetime sentence of loss and sadness," Guerrero said. "While any one of them could have stopped this from happening, none of them did.

"If they miss birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, if they miss their children growing up, maybe they'd better understand what they've taken from us."

As she spoke, Merel, who had admitted hitting Araujo with a can and frying pan, cried and dabbed his eyes with a tissue.

The Araujo family's attorney, Gloria Allred, also read statements on behalf of the victim's siblings, Brandon Guerrero, 17, and Michael West, 13, who called the three men "murderers, cowards and losers."

Araujo's aunt, Imelda Guerrero, cried as she described how "we have told hold our Gwen in a box" while the convicted killers will be able to receive visits or phone calls from prison.

"I have no shame in saying that I hate all of them," she said.

Merel and Cazares looked at some of the speakers as they spoke, but Magidson did not.

In September, the jury in the second trial in Araujo's slaying concluded that Magidson and Merel had beaten and strangled Araujo after learning that the person they had had oral and anal sex with was biologically male. The same panel deadlocked in favor of a second-degree murder conviction on Cazares, who in December agreed to plead no contest to voluntary manslaughter.

Araujo was born Edward Araujo but lived and identified as a girl. The four men had known Araujo as Lida and expressed doubts about her gender after Merel and Magidson had sex with her in the weeks before the killing, according to trial testimony.

They discovered her gender after cornering her in the bathroom during a party at Merel's house in October 2002, prosecutors said. Araujo's killers beat her savagely and strangled her before burying her in a shallow grave in the Sierra foothills east of Placerville in El Dorado County.

Araujo's last words before she died were, "Please don't. I have a family," prosecutor Chris Lamiero said, citing witnesses.

Nabors, who led police to Araujo's body, agreed to testify against the other defendants and pleaded guilty in 2003 to voluntary manslaughter.

Defense attorneys argued that their clients were at most guilty of manslaughter committed in the heat of passion caused by Araujo's sexual deception.

The first trial ended in June 2004 with the jury deadlocked on charges against Merel, Magidson and Cazares. The jury in the second trial rejected allegations that the slaying was a hate crime stemming from Araujo's gender orientation.

In his statement to the court, Magidson said he had not received a fair trial because witnesses and his co-defendants lied on the stand with help from prosecutor Chris Lamiero.

"The truth hurts," Magidson said. "It seems nobody can handle the truth or is willing to accept the truth."

That brought a sharp rebuke from Sheppard, who accused Magidson of showing no remorse and blaming everyone but himself.

"You haven't explained to me at all that you're sorry," the judge said.

Magidson's attorney, Michael Thorman, and Merel's attorney, Bill Du Bois, argued for probation for their clients, saying the slaying resulted from "unusual circumstances that are unlikely to recur."

Sheppard agreed, noting that neither Merel nor Magidson had a previous criminal history, but said the circumstances of the crime outweighed any consideration of probation.

"This crime was a brutal beating of a vulnerable victim," the judge said.

Cazares did not address the court, and the judge gave him until March 30 to begin serving his sentence so as to allow him to witness the birth of his third child.

Merel expressed regret for his actions.

"I am truly and sincerely sorry," he said. "I wish I could go back to that terrible day and erase it. I realize you may never forgive me, but I ask that all of you at least try."